Wellington Beach House.

Having grown to love the seaside lifestyle but weary of the old house that had overstayed its welcome, the time came to write a new chapter for the Pukatea Beach House. Complete with temporary accommodation during the build and an attractive rentable space thereafter, the 870m² site is now host to two warm, beautifully designed, year-round baches at the beach. A careful balance was struck between making the most of all the site had to offer for the two homes while maintaining a high degree of privacy between them.

The brief for the main house was simple: a relaxed, no fuss, people and pet friendly, two-bedroom home with clean lines using natural and robust materials, designed for a lifetime of enjoyment in the sun. Accessible hallways, tiled bathrooms, level entry doors, low-maintenance materials and low running costs will make this bach the place to be for as long as possible.

The home’s heart, the kitchen, is aligned on an axis with Ward Island and is set in-between the sheltered seaside porch and the hills-side courtyard. Large sliding doors at either end of the kitchen enable the occupant to reconfigure, connect or shelter the various spaces in response to weather, season and activity. The living room enjoys panoramic views from Point Howard all the way to the Kaikoura Ranges of the South Island.

The folded roof form undulates over living spaces like the crest of a wave, its brow tipped toward the sea, elongating the form and presenting a humble frontage to the public promenade below. The north-eastern corner is effortlessly pulled skyward, inviting the morning sun and offering views to the hilltops beyond. A seaside porch is boldly carved in to create a sheltered outdoor room, offering a sense of protection on what is an otherwise exposed frontage.